At the stroke of a finger participants were able to visualize new growth patterns…

Exhibiting at North Carolina State University’s Institute for Emerging Issues annual forum, RENCI featured its Multi-Touch Table, which included the RENCI at UNC Charlotte Urbanization Explorer tool.

The Emerging Issues Forum brings together hundreds of citizens and leaders in business and government to discuss issues of critical importance to North Carolina’s future. This year’s Forum, held at the Raleigh Convention Center on February 9 and 10, addressed issues related to North Carolina’s growth and infrastructure needs.

Already beginning to explore growth patterns around the state, the UNC Charlotte Engagement Center’s Urbanization Explorer Tool proved to be a big hit at the Forum. Attendees had a chance to see how this innovative tool allows users to interact with data and information while getting a visual demonstration of growth patterns in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. According to RENCI researchers, “the Explorer Touch Table brings an intuitive approach to interacting with the maps, and allows the nonscientist to explore the richness of data without previous software experience.”
With interfaces developed by collaborators at the Charlotte Visualization Center, multiple users were able to select areas of interest, zoom, pan, and navigate the colorful, large-format maps using only their fingertips and on-screen digital tools. Preselected options included land-conversion rates and areas.

The development of the Urbanization Explorer Touch Table is the result of implementing RENCI’s mission to deliver transformational discoveries to the citizens of North Carolina. This integration of sophisticated spatial analysis into a user-friendly interface is touted as a unique way to bring planners, managers, and decision makers the tools they need to build good growth in the State.
In the coming months, RENCI and the UNC Charlotte Engagement Center will finalize the development of a replica Touch Table, featuring the Urbanization Explorer tool, which will reside on the UNC Charlotte campus at the Charlotte Visualization Center.